Two issues with new machine.

I just built a new Vista 64-bit machines, and I have two problems.
First, only 4 GB of the 6 GB I have installed is showing up in Windows
System. I am fairly certain I installed all the DIMMs correctly.

Second, the machine will not boot unless I have a thumb drive
installed. This is the craziest aspect, but it does not seem to find
the BIOS unless I have a second copy of the BIN of the BIOS on the
thumb drive. I know that can not be the *real* reason, as the BIOS on
the thumb drive is just code. I think something is wrong in the way
my hardware is configured, but I don't know what.

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Jim:
For the not seeing 6 GB ram and only reading 4 GB ram, there is a bios
setting to remap the ram to read over 4 GB. For having to have a thumb drive
installed, verify that Bitlocker isn't installed.

--
Dennis Pack
Win-7 RC 7100

"Jim" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I just built a new Vista 64-bit machines, and I have two problems.
> First, only 4 GB of the 6 GB I have installed is showing up in Windows
> System. I am fairly certain I installed all the DIMMs correctly.
>
> Second, the machine will not boot unless I have a thumb drive
> installed. This is the craziest aspect, but it does not seem to find
> the BIOS unless I have a second copy of the BIN of the BIOS on the
> thumb drive. I know that can not be the *real* reason, as the BIOS on
> the thumb drive is just code. I think something is wrong in the way
> my hardware is configured, but I don't know what.
>
> The two problems may be related in some way.
>
> Thank you for your help!
>
> Jim
>
> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus
> signature database 4380 (20090829) __________
>
> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus.
>
> http://www.eset.com
>
>
>

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Jim,
What is exactly "will not boot"?
BIOS boot won't start or Windows will not boot?
My best guess is that you get the BIOS boot screens but can't boot into
Windows.
Unplug your thumb drive, put your Windows installation DVD in the drive and
restart.
Boot off the installation DVD and repair Windows boot.
That should fix it.
Regarding the 6GB/4GB issue:
1.- Are memory banks configured according your motherboard specification?
2.-What does BIOS say during boot about the amount of installed memory?
Carlos

"Jim" wrote:
> I just built a new Vista 64-bit machines, and I have two problems.
> First, only 4 GB of the 6 GB I have installed is showing up in Windows
> System. I am fairly certain I installed all the DIMMs correctly.
>
> Second, the machine will not boot unless I have a thumb drive
> installed. This is the craziest aspect, but it does not seem to find
> the BIOS unless I have a second copy of the BIN of the BIOS on the
> thumb drive. I know that can not be the *real* reason, as the BIOS on
> the thumb drive is just code. I think something is wrong in the way
> my hardware is configured, but I don't know what.
>
> The two problems may be related in some way.
>
> Thank you for your help!
>
> Jim
>

On Aug 30, 2:11 pm, Carlos <> wrote:
> Jim,
> What is exactly "will not boot"?
> BIOS boot won't start or Windows will not boot?
> My best guess is that you get the BIOS boot screens but can't boot into
> Windows.

I am not even able to get the BIOS screens without the thumb drive
installed. I know it sounds *nuts,* but then (with the thumb drive
installed) I get the quick ASUS message, then the flash screen, and I
have the option of going into the BIOS or tab to watch the devices.
> Unplug your thumb drive, put your Windows installation DVD in the drive and
> restart.
> Boot off the installation DVD and repair Windows boot.
> That should fix it.

I tried that, and the machine still would not boot without the thumb
drive installed. I then booted from the Windows disc, and I have
fully installed Windows. I still require the thumb drive to be
installed to continue to boot. I think it may have something to do
with the memory.
> Regarding the 6GB/4GB issue:
> 1.- Are memory banks configured according your motherboard specification?
> 2.-What does BIOS say during boot about the amount of installed memory?

I have three 2 GB sticks of Muchkin DDR-3 memory installed in the
three orange slots of an ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 board. The BIOS reports 4
GB of "usable memory," whaever that means. Both SIW and CPU-Z see the
6 GB, and they know it is Mushkin memory, but Windows and the BIOS do
not see it. So it must be in the slots correctly. I think there is
something wrong with the BIOS configuration of the memory, but I don't
know where? I've read that the i7 920s require a special setting in
the BIOS. I also said to use SPD and perhaps I should tell the BIOS
how fast my memory is. It is very fast memory.

I just found this post on another site. It sounds as if *lots* of
people are having trouble with similiar boards, processors, and memory
configurations. He was also having my boot problems, although I was
able to solve it with the thumb drive.

I think somebody on this forum will come up with the answer.

Jim

Hi. I have a similar problem but it hasn't become that annoying yet.
Let me explain:
I have purcased the following components in order to build a core i7
system especially for OC:
CPU Core i7 920 D0 step
Mobo ASUS P6T Deluxe V2
Mem Corsair DDR3 1600MHz 3x2GB tripple channel with timings 7-7-7-20

When I first installed the parts the system wouldn't boot at all.
There was power but no POST messages on the screen.
I removed 1 DIMM and it booted with 2x2GB=4GB. I thought I had a bad
slot/DIMM but first I tried to flash the BIOS with the latest version
and then give it a 2nd try and fortunately it recognized all 6GB but
at 1066MHz as I hadn't started experimenting with OC the 920 at that
time so it was running at its stock freq. 2.67GHz. Recently I started
experimenting with OC and I managed to get the 920 up to 4GHz with a
21 multiplier and 190BCLK: this pushed the memory close to its rated
limit but not at 1600MHz: it went around 1533MHz and I also lowered
the timings from 9-9-9-24 to 7-7-7-20, the rated max. values. Still no
problem with the amount of avail. memory. 6GB both in POST and OS
(64bit obviously). However when I tried 20 multiplier 200BCLK and
7-7-7-20 timings, only 4GB were available. So is this a memory
problem, a dimm slot problem or CPU mem controler? This is exactly as
Bob Scott explained: When I back down the speed (1600--->1533) all 6GB
are recognizable. Personally I don't mind running my mem at 1533
because the 920 D0 stepping has a max multiplier of 21 so I can reach
4GHz with lower BCLK (190 instead of 200) . As long as I don't see
any change in POST/OS in total amount of memory while running at
21x190BCLK, I will be happy.

On 31/08/2009 04:32, Jim wrote:
> On Aug 30, 2:11 pm, Carlos<> wrote:
>> Jim,
>> What is exactly "will not boot"?
>> BIOS boot won't start or Windows will not boot?
>> My best guess is that you get the BIOS boot screens but can't boot into
>> Windows.
>
> I am not even able to get the BIOS screens without the thumb drive
> installed. I know it sounds *nuts,* but then (with the thumb drive
> installed) I get the quick ASUS message, then the flash screen, and I
> have the option of going into the BIOS or tab to watch the devices.
>
>> Unplug your thumb drive, put your Windows installation DVD in the drive and
>> restart.
>> Boot off the installation DVD and repair Windows boot.
>> That should fix it.
>
> I tried that, and the machine still would not boot without the thumb
> drive installed. I then booted from the Windows disc, and I have
> fully installed Windows. I still require the thumb drive to be
> installed to continue to boot. I think it may have something to do
> with the memory.
>
>> Regarding the 6GB/4GB issue:
>> 1.- Are memory banks configured according your motherboard specification?
>> 2.-What does BIOS say during boot about the amount of installed memory?
>
> I have three 2 GB sticks of Muchkin DDR-3 memory installed in the
> three orange slots of an ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 board. The BIOS reports 4
> GB of "usable memory," whaever that means. Both SIW and CPU-Z see the
> 6 GB, and they know it is Mushkin memory, but Windows and the BIOS do
> not see it. So it must be in the slots correctly. I think there is
> something wrong with the BIOS configuration of the memory, but I don't
> know where? I've read that the i7 920s require a special setting in
> the BIOS. I also said to use SPD and perhaps I should tell the BIOS
> how fast my memory is. It is very fast memory.
>
> Thanks! I think we are getting somewhere!
>
> Jim

Jim,
I guess your PC was not born with the thumb drive plugged in.
So, what changed between the day when your PC was "thumbless" to the day it
became thumb dependent?
The 6GB/4GB issue is BIOS dependent according to your data so try to
interprent the small print in the mobo's manual carefully. There are usually
exceptions to the way all memory slots can be populated.
Carlos

"Jim" wrote:
> On Aug 30, 2:11 pm, Carlos <> wrote:
> > Jim,
> > What is exactly "will not boot"?
> > BIOS boot won't start or Windows will not boot?
> > My best guess is that you get the BIOS boot screens but can't boot into
> > Windows.
>
> I am not even able to get the BIOS screens without the thumb drive
> installed. I know it sounds *nuts,* but then (with the thumb drive
> installed) I get the quick ASUS message, then the flash screen, and I
> have the option of going into the BIOS or tab to watch the devices.
>
> > Unplug your thumb drive, put your Windows installation DVD in the drive and
> > restart.
> > Boot off the installation DVD and repair Windows boot.
> > That should fix it.
>
> I tried that, and the machine still would not boot without the thumb
> drive installed. I then booted from the Windows disc, and I have
> fully installed Windows. I still require the thumb drive to be
> installed to continue to boot. I think it may have something to do
> with the memory.
>
> > Regarding the 6GB/4GB issue:
> > 1.- Are memory banks configured according your motherboard specification?
> > 2.-What does BIOS say during boot about the amount of installed memory?
>
> I have three 2 GB sticks of Muchkin DDR-3 memory installed in the
> three orange slots of an ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 board. The BIOS reports 4
> GB of "usable memory," whaever that means. Both SIW and CPU-Z see the
> 6 GB, and they know it is Mushkin memory, but Windows and the BIOS do
> not see it. So it must be in the slots correctly. I think there is
> something wrong with the BIOS configuration of the memory, but I don't
> know where? I've read that the i7 920s require a special setting in
> the BIOS. I also said to use SPD and perhaps I should tell the BIOS
> how fast my memory is. It is very fast memory.
>
> Thanks! I think we are getting somewhere!
>
> Jim
>

On Aug 31, 7:09 am, Carlos <> wrote:
> I guess your PC was not born with the thumb drive plugged in.
>

Carlos,

Very clever. However, it was serendipity that came across having the
thumb drive installed and making the computer boot. <smile> It did
not work properly until I had done that. I originally insalled the
thumb drive to bring the BIOS up to the latest version, but I already
*had* the lastest version.
> So, what changed between the day when your PC was "thumbless" to the day it
> became thumb dependent?

I tried to flash the BIOS.
> The 6GB/4GB issue is BIOS dependent according to your data so try to
> interprent the small print in the mobo's manual carefully. There are usually
> exceptions to the way all memory slots can be populated.

People all over the Internet are having this problem, so I think it is
related to the i7 920, ASUS motherboards, and triple pumped memory. I
have the memory in the correct three slots according to the manual,
and I have all three in the orange slots. Both SIW and CPU-Z see all
6 GB properly.

Jim,
The thumb drive thing still baffles me.
How far do you get after powering up your pc without the thumb drive plugged
in?
No video, no messages, no beeps?
Have you tried resetting the BIOS?
Carlos

"Jim" wrote:
> On Aug 31, 7:09 am, Carlos <> wrote:
>
> > I guess your PC was not born with the thumb drive plugged in.
> >
>
> Carlos,
>
> Very clever. However, it was serendipity that came across having the
> thumb drive installed and making the computer boot. <smile> It did
> not work properly until I had done that. I originally insalled the
> thumb drive to bring the BIOS up to the latest version, but I already
> *had* the lastest version.
>
> > So, what changed between the day when your PC was "thumbless" to the day it
> > became thumb dependent?
>
> I tried to flash the BIOS.
>
> > The 6GB/4GB issue is BIOS dependent according to your data so try to
> > interprent the small print in the mobo's manual carefully. There are usually
> > exceptions to the way all memory slots can be populated.
>
> People all over the Internet are having this problem, so I think it is
> related to the i7 920, ASUS motherboards, and triple pumped memory. I
> have the memory in the correct three slots according to the manual,
> and I have all three in the orange slots. Both SIW and CPU-Z see all
> 6 GB properly.
>
> Jim
>

After trying to flash the BIOS did you remove the thumb drive and clear
the CMOS data? After this you should load optimised or fail-safe
defaults and then customise the settings for your set-up. It seems that
at boot the board is accessing the thumb drive BIOS copy not the
on-board chip.

With new chipsets and hardware there is always the possibility of
incompatible firmwares and BIOSes in disks, graphics cards, etc. apart
from faulty components generating noise on startup and confusing the
system. Remove everything non-essential and see if it will boot
normally. If so, add things in stages until you find what is causing
problems.

On 31/08/2009 16:19, Jim wrote:
> On Aug 31, 7:09 am, Carlos<> wrote:
>
>> I guess your PC was not born with the thumb drive plugged in.
>>
>
> Carlos,
>
> Very clever. However, it was serendipity that came across having the
> thumb drive installed and making the computer boot.<smile> It did
> not work properly until I had done that. I originally insalled the
> thumb drive to bring the BIOS up to the latest version, but I already
> *had* the lastest version.
>
>> So, what changed between the day when your PC was "thumbless" to the day it
>> became thumb dependent?
>
> I tried to flash the BIOS.
>
>> The 6GB/4GB issue is BIOS dependent according to your data so try to
>> interprent the small print in the mobo's manual carefully. There are usually
>> exceptions to the way all memory slots can be populated.
>
> People all over the Internet are having this problem, so I think it is
> related to the i7 920, ASUS motherboards, and triple pumped memory. I
> have the memory in the correct three slots according to the manual,
> and I have all three in the orange slots. Both SIW and CPU-Z see all
> 6 GB properly.
>
> Jim

On Aug 31, 10:38 am, Carlos <> wrote:
> How far do you get after powering up your pc without the thumb drive plugged
> in?
> No video, no messages, no beeps?
> Have you tried resetting the BIOS?
> Carlos

Carlos,

I don't even get the "Loading ASUS Express Gate" flashing across the
screen unless the thumb drive is installed. I finally have things
improved, although not fixed, with the memory, with the help of
Mushkin and changing all of the settings manually, but the computer
will not boot without the thumb drive. The machine is much peppier
with the new manual memory settings but it does not see the 6 GB in
Device Manager. Both CPU-Z and SIW see the memory, and CPU-Z tells me
that it is in the correct slots.

I think you were on to something earlier when you said that this is a
machine that simply likes to suck it's thumb? <smile>

On Aug 31, 10:57 am, Dominic Payer <> wrote:
> After trying to flash the BIOS did you remove the thumb drive and clear
> the CMOS data? After this you should load optimised or fail-safe
> defaults and then customise the settings for your set-up. It seems that
> at boot the board is accessing the thumb drive BIOS copy not the
> on-board chip.
>
> With new chipsets and hardware there is always the possibility of
> incompatible firmwares and BIOSes in disks, graphics cards, etc. apart
> from faulty components generating noise on startup and confusing the
> system. Remove everything non-essential and see if it will boot
> normally. If so, add things in stages until you find what is causing
> problems.
>
I could also having problems migrating stuff to a 64-bit system.
However, I don't think that is it. I do have peripherals, but not all
that much.

Mushkin says that either my memory has to be bad or my slots are bad.
However, I do not think it is that easy. I think the problem could be
elsewhere, especially with the i7 920 X58 chipset combination. I have
heard of lots of reports of problems on the Internet.

I presume you are fully knowledgeable that this forum is for discussions
of problems with 64-bit Windows operating systems and is not a hardware
forum.

Jim wrote:
> On Aug 31, 10:24 pm, Jim <> wrote:
>
> Mushkin says that either my memory has to be bad or my slots are bad.
> However, I do not think it is that easy. I think the problem could be
> elsewhere, especially with the i7 920 X58 chipset combination. I have
> heard of lots of reports of problems on the Internet.
>
> Jim

Jim,
This morning I woke up with a hunch.
Unplug your thumb drive and plug there any USB device you have, e.g., a
webcam.
Restart your PC and see what happens.
I've got the feeling that either your mobo or power supply is needing a
little current drain on the +5VUSB power supply to start.
Some piece of hardware ain't working as it should there.
Carlos

"Jim" wrote:
> On Aug 31, 10:38 am, Carlos <> wrote:
>
> > How far do you get after powering up your pc without the thumb drive plugged
> > in?
> > No video, no messages, no beeps?
> > Have you tried resetting the BIOS?
> > Carlos
>
> Carlos,
>
> I don't even get the "Loading ASUS Express Gate" flashing across the
> screen unless the thumb drive is installed. I finally have things
> improved, although not fixed, with the memory, with the help of
> Mushkin and changing all of the settings manually, but the computer
> will not boot without the thumb drive. The machine is much peppier
> with the new manual memory settings but it does not see the 6 GB in
> Device Manager. Both CPU-Z and SIW see the memory, and CPU-Z tells me
> that it is in the correct slots.
>
> I think you were on to something earlier when you said that this is a
> machine that simply likes to suck it's thumb? <smile>
>
> Jim
>

> This morning I woke up with a hunch.
> Unplug your thumb drive and plug there any USB device you have, e.g., a
> webcam.
> Restart your PC and see what happens.
> I've got the feeling that either your mobo or power supply is needing a
> little current drain on the +5VUSB power supply to start.
> Some piece of hardware ain't working as it should there.

Carlos,

That could be? I have a brand new Enermax 1050 watt power supply.It
could be too much for what I have plugged in. I had a previous RAID 5
system with four drives, although the new video card takes quite a bit
more juice than the old one did.

I'll have to try it next week, as I want to get away from the machine
for a weekend.

Jim,
I'll be on vacations as of tomorrow till mid September so I won't be able to
follow your posts (vacation = fully unplugged).
I did not mean that 1 KW was not enough for your rig, what I said is that
maybe your mobo or your PSU might be needing (dunno why) a _little_ standby
current for starting up.
Best of luck.
Carlos

"Jim" wrote:
> > This morning I woke up with a hunch.
> > Unplug your thumb drive and plug there any USB device you have, e.g., a
> > webcam.
> > Restart your PC and see what happens.
> > I've got the feeling that either your mobo or power supply is needing a
> > little current drain on the +5VUSB power supply to start.
> > Some piece of hardware ain't working as it should there.
>
> Carlos,
>
> That could be? I have a brand new Enermax 1050 watt power supply.It
> could be too much for what I have plugged in. I had a previous RAID 5
> system with four drives, although the new video card takes quite a bit
> more juice than the old one did.
>
> I'll have to try it next week, as I want to get away from the machine
> for a weekend.
>
> Thanks again!
>
> Jim
>

On Aug 31, 10:38 am, Carlos <> wrote:
> Jim,
> The thumb drive thing still baffles me.
> How far do you get after powering up your pc without the thumb drive plugged
> in?
> No video, no messages, no beeps?
> Have you tried resetting the BIOS?
> Carlos

Hi Carlos,

I've *finally* fixed the thumb drive problem. I turned off "Express
Gate" in the BIOS. Evidently "Express Gate" adds a ten-second delay
to the boot, and I thought the thumb drive was helping. With Express
Gate disable the machine boots fine.

Thank you for all your help through the years.

I am still having trouble with the memory, and I am down to five
possibilities: (a) bad memory, (b) bad memory slot, (c) impropper
BIOS settings, (d) incorrectly inserted CPU, or (e) incompatible
memory with the motherboard. Some of these are easier to test than
others.

I am somewhat inclined to stick with 4 GB of recognized memory and
just go with it. Tha't easier than taking out the CPU. I have one of
those *huge* fans, and there are two pages of people having these
problems on the ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 site, and many of them could not
fix the problem no matter *what* they did.

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